Meet the New Guy, Mark Kotsay

NEW YORK --- After being traded to the Red Sox by the Atlanta Brave, Mark Kotsay made it to Yankee Stadium about an hour before the start of Wednesday night's game against the Yankees.

The Globe's Amalie Benjamin and the Providence Journal's Sean McAdam greeted Kotsay and provided this pool report of their interview with the 32-year-old outfielder who hit .289 with 6 homers and 37 RBI in 81 games with the Braves this season.

Here's an excerpt of the interview they conducted with him in the hallway leading from the visitors' dugout to the clubhouse:

You have any idea it might happen?
Mark Kotsay: ``Not really. I figured once I cleared waivers, and there wasn't really any action, that I'd finish out the season in Atlanta. But this obviously is exciting to come to a club that's in the playoff race, and especially one like Boston that has the history of a great tradition.''

Who are you familiar with on the Sox?.
MK: ``Mikey Lowell, Josh Beckett. Just from playing against those guys. Jason Bay, actually came up with San Diego when I was there. First game, he broke his wrist. I think it was in Arizona. Then, obviously, [Alex] Cora and Jason and I could go on, just from playing against them, I'm familiar with most of the guys.''

What about Mags?
MK: ``Yeah, Dave Magadan was my hitting coach in San Diego.

Know how you'll be used?
MK:Not yet, not yet. I'm just anxious to come over and in some way help this club, obviously, reach its destination, and at the same time have as much fun as possible.

How invigorating is it to come into a playoff race?
MK:It's very invigorating, no question. Unfortunately, in Atlanta, things didn't go as well as we would have like to. I see Atlanta giving me this opportunity and we have to be thankful for that as well.

Words like `gamer' seem to describe you; is it something you've prided yourself on?
MK:Yeah, for me, I mean the respect of your peers is ultimately what you play the game for, and really nothing else. There's no accolades that I'm chasing at this point other than to be on a winning club and to play in a World Series.''